Burgeoning gas production in northern British Columbia has prompted Westcoast Energy to hold another open season for a capacity expansion. As a result of a recent open season, Westcoast gathered binding requests for 33 MMcf/d of expansion service on its Forth Nelson mainline for an April 2002 in-service date. This new open season is for an additional 120 MMcf/d on the Fort Nelson line by November 2002.

Westcoast said it has received expressions of interest from shippers and will be conducting an open season for additional firm transportation service from the following receipt points: Fort Nelson Plant, Buckinghorse Plant, Caribou Plant, Jedney #1 Plant , Jedney #2 Plant, Sikanni Plant and Cypress Plant to Compressor Station No. 2. (“Zone 3”). This additional transportation service would be made available through an expansion consisting largely of pipeline loop.

The company said it anticipates posting the open season early next week. In order to obtain regulatory approvals in time to meet a November 2002 in-service date for this additional service, the duration of the open season will be short — two days. Westcoast also said, however, that it still anticipates holding an additional open season for a further expansion of its northern mainline facilities by an in-service date of November 2003.

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